Decherd's first shift includes 25 workers assembling motors for the Leaf. The electric car is assembled on the Altima sedan line at Nissan's Smyrna assembly line.

The newly revised Leaf will have a range on batteries of more than 200 miles, a distance that automotive analysts say will position the vehicle to compete with the Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model 3, which can travel more than 200 miles between charges. The present model of the Leaf can travel about 107 miles between charges.

This year through June, Nissan has sold 7,248 Leafs, up 25 percent from the 5,793 recorded through the first half of 2016, reports market reseacher Motor Intelligence of Mahwah, N.J.